Hollywood Dons a Red Ribbon for AIDs Walk L.A. 2012

by Danielle Turchiano

Over 30,000 participants are expected at this year’s AIDs Walk here in Los Angeles. 30,000 people who have raised money for the cause and will walk a big loop around the Pacific Design Center right here in the heart of the city to say that although the epidemic has been controlled, they will not allow it to be ignored.

AIDs doesn’t make the news all that often these days. To receive an HIV+ diagnoses is no longer a death sentence. In fact, many people with HIV never go on to contract full-blown AIDs. But just because it may seem like some things are better under control now than a few decades ago doesn’t mean the problem has been solved. There is still no cure for the disease, and until there is, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang, and Chair of APLA’s Board of Directors Tom Whitman will continue to host the annual walk and speak out about the cause.

Last month, IBG signed up for the 2012 AIDs Walk L.A., and we (obviously) are not alone. Among the 30,000 participants who have also pledged to show their support on Sunday, October 14th 2012 are some very special celebrity guests, including Sophia Bush, Christa B. Allen, Nikki DeLoach, Andrew Rannells, Jai Rodriguez, Christopher Gorham, Leslie Bibb, Barrett Foa, Jessica Lu, Michael Urie,Dot Marie Jones, Molly Tarlov, Carly Pope, Bryce Johnson, and Pauley Perrette.

The Voice season two semi-finalist Jamar Rogers and Norm Lewis will perform to kick off the morning with energy and style, while Norm Lewis will close.

Other elected officials expected to attend include: United States Representatives Howard Berman andAdam Schiff; California State Senators Curren D. Price and Rod Wright; California State Assembly members Betsy Butler, Mike Feuer, Isadore Hall, and Ricardo Lara; Los Angeles City Council members Paul Koretz, Paul Krekorian, and Jan Perry; Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich;Los Angeles City AIDS Coordinator Ricky Rosales; Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy; and West Hollywood City Councilmembers John J. Duran and John Heilman.

The 2012 Los Angeles AIDs Walk is just another in a long line of similar charity walks for cures. Ranging from PKD to Breast Cancer, signing up for a walk is a great way to show your support, and get your friends, family, and coworkers involved, too. What’s a few hours on a weekend when you’re contributing to something as great as research to cure such potentially crippling diseases? A few hours of exercise are good for everyone, and having that time to walk alongside loved ones or even strangers is a bonding experience in which you can share your stories and strategize how else you might be able to give back. The effects are literally life-changing.

Why do you walk at the AIDs Walk or any other? Leave us a comment below.